Stacking of boards.



No. 704,260. Patented july 8, |902. f G. JUHNSUN, 1R.

STACKING 0F BOARDS.

'Application led Dec. 27, 100k..

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UNTTnO STATES PATENT Orrrcn.

GREENLEAF JOHNSON, JR., OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

sTAOKrNs OF BOARDS.

srnciricArIoN forming part of Letters Patent No. 704.260,' dated July 8,1902 Application led December 27, 1901. Serial No. 87,461- (No model.)

To all whom, t may concern: 1

Be it known that I, GRnnNLnAF JOnNsON, Jr., of the city of Baltimore andState of Maryland, have invented certain Improvements in the Stacking ofBoards to Facilitate their Drying and Prevent their Edgewise Varping, ofwhich the following is a specification.

Lumber when placed in a kiln or stacked in a lumber-yard is in acomparatively damp condition, and the boards while drying are liable towarp edgewise, and when so warped a considerable loss of material isexperienced in edging the dry boards or making them straight.

This invention consists in stacking boards in vertical separated layersand separating the adjoining boards of each layer to produce Ventilatingspaces and in clamping each layer of separated boards edgewise toprevent the boards when drying from edgewise warping, as willhereinafter fully appear.

In the further description of the said invention which follows referenceis made to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, and inwhich- Figure lis an exterior view of a stack of boards clamped inaccordance with the present invention and looking toward their ends.Fig. 2 is a top view of Fig. l with portions of the boards cut away toreduce the height of the gure. Fig. 3 is a top view of one of theclamping devices. Figs. 4 and 5 are side views of the ends of theclamping device, and Fig. 6 an end view of Fig. a.

Referring now to the drawings, A A are the sills, which form thefoundation of the stacked lumber.

B B are the boards, indirectly supported by the sills A. Instead of theordinary pilingstrips which are placed between the layers of boards tosupport them and to retain them at a suitable distance apart, so as toadmit of the free circulation of air through the stack, I employ deviceswhich not only support the layers, but also serve tO separate the boardsand further clamp the separated boards of each layer edgewise together.These devices may be constructed in a variety of ways to accomplish thepurpose in view. Ihave there- 'fore shown what in my judgment is thebest construction, but do not limit myself to its use. These clampingdevices, as shown, consist of bearing-bars O of the channel order,provided with blocks D, which lie therein and are provided withcross-pieces E, which eX- tend above'and across the upper edge of thebearing-bars. The block at one end of each bar O is secured in place,the means of fastening being a pin F, while the other blocks areadjustable in position and adapted to be moved longitudinally of thebar. At the other end'of the bar is fastened a nut G, in which isadapted to turn a screwboltH,where by the block adjacent to it may beset up.

In piling lumber to be dried in accordance with the present invention aseries of bars O are laid on the sills A and arranged so that the ends vand the intervening parts of the boards may be properly supported. InFig. 2 the boards are shown as supported only at the ends andl at thecenter.

The first board placed across the bearingbars is pushed into contactwith the stationary cross-pieces E and loose blocks set up to it, whenanother board is placed in position or against the said blocks. Thisarrangenient of boards is carried out until as many boards are placed inposition as the bars will admit of, when the last blocks are set uptightly against the last board by means of the screw-bolts H.Bearing-bars are then placed on the edgewise-clamped boards and anotherseries of boards clamped, as described, and the Operation continueduntil the stack is complete. During the drying operation the boards arethus held immovable, and at its conclusion when the boards are releasedthey will be found to be straight and free from edgewise warp.

I claim as my invention-d A stack of boards consisting of thecombination of boards laid'iatwise in horizontal layers with means toseparate the said layers, devices to separate the adjoining boards ofeach layer, and mechanism to clamp the said adjoining boards edgewise,substantially as, and for the purpose specified.

GREENLEAF JOHNSON, JR. Witnesses:

OREGON MILTON DnNNrs, Es'rnr T, GOTT.

